I keep looking at this thread's title feeling something is amiss.

I just realised it is the very concept of 'backup.'

I hear this term in firearms, usually a smaller caliber in a

compact package: What the late Colonel Cooper called " sending a

destroyer to 'back up' a battleship." It seems reasonable that

you should first be reasonably sure you won't lose or destroy

your primary blade. If you can't do that, then buy TWO to lose

or destroy. About the only use I see afield for backup blades

are the packers of tactical swords. You know; spreading peanut

butter, cutting paracord, making fuz sticks, striking firesteels.